Mets Reportedly Set To Hire Sandy Alderson As Their New GM

The Mets have "settled on Sandy Alderson to be their new" GM, according to sources cited by Jon Heyman of SI.com. The official hire of Alderson, who has been working as a consultant for MLB in the Dominican Republic, "could come as early as Friday, as announcements are discouraged on days of World Series games." The former A's GM and Padres CEO "brings instant added credibility to the Mets, who have had two straight losing seasons." One of Alderson's "first tasks will be to hire a manager to replace Jerry Manuel" (SI.com, 10/26). The Mets' interview process ended yesterday "with Alderson's callback." While Alderson had "already met twice" with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and Assistant GM John Ricco, yesterday was his "first meeting" with team Owner Fred Wilpon and President Saul Katz. Former D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes "was the other finalist; he met with Mets ownership on Monday" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/27). In N.Y., Puma & Sherman report after meeting with Alderson yesterday, the Mets "called the former A's GM and Byrnes to let them know the final decision." The Mets "liked the 40-year-old Byrnes," but the Wilpons and Katz "ultimately leaned toward Alderson's experience and stature within the game." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "pro-actively told Alderson he could leave his position with MLB if he were interested in the Mets position." Puma & Sherman note Selig "clearly was looking to help his longtime friend, Fred Wilpon, by making available an executive of stature just at a time in Mets history when the organization needed that quality badly" (N.Y. POST, 10/27).

THE RIGHT FIT: The N.Y. POST's Joel Sherman notes the Mets throughout the interview process were "going to favor the elder statesman, whose gravitas provides the Mets an instant jolt of that credibility they desired." No one in baseball believes that Wilpon is "going to push around Alderson, an ex-Marine with a reputation for integrity and a steel spine" (N.Y. POST, 10/27). SportsNet N.Y.'s Adam Schein said of Alderson, "He is the ideal fit, baseball genius, who demands full autonomy. I trust him to find the next great manager" ("Loudmouths," SportsNet N.Y., 10/26).